Video based instructional and entertainment system using animated figure

• US 4,846,693 A
• Filed: 12/01/1988
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith Engineering Co.
• Original Assignee: Smith Engineering Co.
• Inventors: Baer, Ralph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blum, Theodore M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Issing, Gregory C.
• Application Number:
  US07/278,562
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 434/256, 434/257, 434/308, 446/295, 446/297-303, 446/330
• US Class Current: 434/308
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 3/28 Arrangements of sound-producing means in dolls; Means in dolls for producing sounds
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/065 Combinations of audio and video presentations, e.g. videotapes, videodiscs, television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

An animated figure, e.g. a doll, having the capability of moving its eyebrow, eyelids, eyes and mouth in conjunction with an audio reproducer, i.e. speaker, in its interior is electrically connected to a control box. The control box, which may be powered by household A.C. or by batteries, is connected to the audio and video outputs of a conventional videocassette recorder, (VCR). The VCR is connected to a conventional television set or television monitor. A videocassette recording having a video/audio story line recorded thereon, also contains control data in the video track for animating the dolls moveable parts, as well as routing selected portions of the audio track to the doll'"'"'s speaker. A preferred video encoding scheme is utilized to embed the control data in the video signal by raising selected horizontal line periods to a new, white level. The illusion created to the human viewer is that of the doll having an animated conversation with characters on the television monitor. An interactive input device may also be connected to the control box. A human viewer can influence the actions and spoken words of the doll, as well as the action and language on the TV monitor, by manipulation of the interactive input device. The illusion created is that the human is now an active participant with the animated doll in the story unfolding on the television monitor. Various alternate system'"'"'s configurations are presented.

Claims

1. A video based instructional and entertainment system, comprising:

a picture and sound presentation provided by a video and audio signal source containing digital control data embedded in said video signal, where said video signal displays at least one animated figure on the screen of a television receiver;

at least one animated figure having at least one articulated component capable of motion where said motion is related to said control data;

a first loudspeaker located internal to said animated figure where said loudspeaker reroduces at least a portion of said sound presentation and where said portion is selected by one of said digital control signals;

a second loudspeaker internal to said system where said loudspeaker reproduces that portion of said sound presentation not delivered by said first loudspeaker;

whereby said system allows real-time interaction between said animated screen figure and associated sound presentation as delivered by said television set, and said animated figure, where said interaction effectively extends said screen presentation into the physical space occupied by said animated figure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said video and sound signal source is VCR.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said video and sound signal source is videodisc player.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said embedded control signals are extracted from said video signal by a decoder.

5. The decoder of claim 4, wherein said extracted control signals are used to provide animation for at least one said component of said animated figure.

6. The decoder of claim 4, wherein said extracted control signals are used to effect said reproduction of sound selectively from either said animated figure or from said second speaker associated with said screen presentations.

7. The system of claim 1, in which at least one said control signal is provided so that its presence effects the transfer of other said control signals to a second animated figure having said controllable components and loudspeaker.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said articulated component is the mouth of the animated figure.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said articulated component is a facial feature of the animated figure.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said articulated component is a body part of said animated figure.

11. An interactive video-based instructional and entertainment system, comprising:

a picture and sound presentation provided by a video and audio signal source containing digital control data embedded in said video signal;

a television set capable of displaying said picture presentation;

a microprocessor controller receiving said embedded data;

a manually actuable keyboard connected to said microprocessor;

at least one animated figure having at least one articulated component capable of motion and where said motion is related to said control data;

a first loudspeaker located internal to said animated figure, where said loudspeaker reproduces at least a portion of said sound presentation and where said portion is selected by said microprocessor in response to said digital control data and to entries to said manually actuable keyboard by a human participant;

a second loudspeaker located intenal to said system, where said second loudspeaker reproduces said portion of the sound presentation not delivered by said first loudspeaker;

whereby said system allows real-time interaction between said animated figure and at least one said human participant using said keyboard to respond to said video and sound presentation and to said loudspeaker reproductions; and

where said real-time interaction results from selective playback of said portions of said sound source.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said video and audio signal source is a video tape cassette player.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said video and audio signal source is a videodisc player.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said video and audio signal source is a Compact-Disc-Interactive player.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said articulated component of said animated figure is the mouth of said figure.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said articulated component is a facial feature of said animated figure.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said animated component is a limb of said animated figure.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said animated component of said figure is a body part.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said microprocessor scores responses by the human participant.